While it may not rate very highly on the “must have” or “survival” lists, caffeine is something many of us consider completely normal and may even rely on. Withdrawal aside, caffeine has been recorded as a stimulant since man figured out how to leave written documentation and the ability to produce caffeine might provide the edge in a barter situation at some point. Additionally, producing caffeine at home can reduce grocery bills if you drink tea – or would if it had as much caffeine as coffee.

A multi-purpose item is regularly a money saver, and that extends to growing. When one seed can lead to weeks and months of harvest, there’s better return on the investment in money, care and growing space than a one seed-one fruit harvest. Crop types where they are cut for harvest and returned to at a later date can make a big difference for small spaces, especially, such as overwintering green houses and raised beds or container gardens. So, let’s look at a few plants that are perfect for the fall growing season.

Today I’d like to take a look at a big, crazy garden beauty. As with many others, it tends to follow the ROT “grows together, goes together” and the “goes together, grows together” spin-off sometimes applied to inter-cropping, and tastes fabulous with many of the plants it can benefit most. In this case, there’s both the flower and leaf to consider, and although it would overgrow and out-compete some things that it pairs well with in the kitchen, it has many dandy uses in the yard.

Today I want to reintroduce you to a humble spring and fall fast crop, one that just doesn't get the widespread attention other companion plants enjoy. It is another that follows the ROT “grows together, goes together” and the “goes together, grows together” spin-off sometimes applied to companion plants, but its uses spread beyond same-dish, same-harvest-time ease of access.

Companion planting is something that was originally passed down from grandparents. Science has proven out some, such as Three Sisters and density-planting marigolds with or ahead of cabbages to decrease destructive nematodes. Science has disproved others along the way. In large part, science ignores the practice of guild planting, in particular, because of difficulties with harvest efficiency. However, there are plants and methods of integrating them that can improve harvests without undue inefficiency, whether using mechanized methods or hand harvesting techniques.

Ready for the next uncomfortable topic? It’s not as sexy as our favorite firearms, it’s not as cool as our reading lists, and it’s far from as comforting as our food supplies. It’s rape, the attempt to prevent it and how it’s dealt with afterward. I think we all expect crime to go up during a protracted crisis, and maybe the unspoken theory is that rapes will go up with it. As it is, estimates suggest that between ‘1 in 4’ and ‘1 in 10’ women have been sexually assaulted or have escaped an attempted rape. Men and boys under-report, but that’s a high number, too. Put 30-40 guys in a room and chances are, 1 of them has admitted to being sexually abused in a survey or on a report. That’s prevalent enough to try and prepare for, with or without a disaster situation. But, rape may be coming from an unexpected angle.

You know one of the most impressive things about raccoons? Their ability to adapt to using what is essentially trash to not only survive, but thrive. The Prepper Link forum has a topic thread called “Reusing things for prepping”. It’s chock full of good ways to repurpose items. Raccoons take that to a whole new level.

You know one of the most impressive things about raccoons? Their ability to adapt to using what is essentially trash to not only survive, but thrive. The Prepper Link forum has a topic thread called “Reusing things for prepping”. It’s chock full of good ways to re-purpose items. Raccoons take that to a whole new level.

As a greenie, I take the order of reduce-reuse-recycle pretty seriously. I can only do so much when it comes to reducing the packaging things come in, but I seek endlessly for ways to reuse what would otherwise be trash.

Plastic is the bane of the environmentally conscious. Finding ways to save money is becoming a national sport. Combining the two with the ability to extend growing seasons is a recipe that can make almost anybody happy. One way to accomplish that is by combining reuse-it’s like soda bottles, old shirts, and Craigslist freebies to expand the growing season and protect vegetable gardens.